Colts eliminated from playoffs with Week 17 loss to New York Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Colts were eliminated from the playoffs with a 45-33 Week 17 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

The Colts (7-9) needed a win over the Giants (3-13) to have a shot at making the playoffs in Week 18. On Saturday, the Colts got the help they needed with the Denver Broncos losing to the Cincinnati Bengals; on Sunday, they were not able to capitalize on it.

The Giants stormed to an early advantage behind an explosive first half. On New York’s second possession, running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. ripped off a 40-yard rush, which set up a 31-yard touchdown from quarterback Drew Lock to wide receiver Malik Nabers.

Lock found wide receiver Darius Slayton for a 32-yard touchdown and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson for a five-yard score in the second quarter. All three of the Giants’ touchdowns came on third down; the first two came on third-and-14 and third-and-eight, respectively.

The Giants had four plays of 30 or more yards in the first half; they had nine such plays in their prior 15 games.

Flacco was intercepted on the Colts’ opening drive. The Colts were left to settle for short Matt Gay field goals on their first two trips to the red zone before running back Jonathan Taylor punched in a three-yard touchdown just before halftime, drawing the score to 21-13 after 30 minutes.